A stone panel depicting the river goddess Ganga
India
9th-10th c.
stone
71 x 48 cm (28 x 19 inches)
A sandstone panel, depicting Ganga, standing with her left hand on her hip, the right holding a lotus stem, from which emanates a serpent naga divinity; standing next to and behind Ganga are attendants, one holding a woven bag, another holding a parasol over the goddess; a standing dvarapala figure to the right with matted hair and a trident; above, a couple play dice.
India, Rajasthan, 9th-10th century AD
Ganga is identified by her vehicle, a makara, on the base of the panel. The panel must have originally been at the entrance of a Saiva temple, indicated by the matted hair and trident of the attendant. In looking upon Ganga as he enters the temple, the devotee is purified, in effect is bathed ritually in the sacred waters of the river (Kramrisch 1976 p. 315).
For a panel with Ganga, formerly in the Heeramaneck Collection, now in the Los Angeles County Museum, see Pal 1988 no. 45a. See also ibid no. 46 for another Ganga panel. The Los Angeles panel is also discussed in Kramrisch 1981 no. 75.
Bibliography
Kramrisch 1976
The Hindu Temple. Stella Kramrisch. New Delhi (reprint) 1976.
Kramrisch 1981
Manifestations of Siva. Stella Kramrisch. Philadelphia 1981
Pal 1988
Indian Sculpture, vol 2. P. Pal. Los Angeles 1988
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